Folding extensible table



Sept 2, 1952 B. F. HAGER 2,609,263

FOLDING EXTENSIBLE TABLE /35 y BY 33 U2 l/'E- ATTORNEYs Sept. 2, 1952 B. F. HAGER FOLDING EXTENSIBLE TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3l, 1950 ATTORNEYS Sept. 2, 1952 B. F. HAGER FOLDING EXTENSIBLE TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 3l, 1950 7 1 l l l r l I l I I l I l l u NKY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, P1952 UNITED STATES vPllTsNT oFFlcE Benjamin F. Hager,l Charlotte, N. C.Y Application January 31, 1950, sria1'N0."141,464

1 This invention rrelates to a folding table and more especially to a folding cutting table particularly adapted for home use in cutting cloth for sewingand other purposes. 'l

It is an object of this invention to provide a folding table having a removable top and the Aframe of said table being so constructed that it may be telescoped and then folded into a compact unit and the table having legs whichare foldable to a position parallel to the frame so that the entire structure when in folded position will take up a very small amount of space. Y

It is another object of this invention to provide a light weight folding vtable particularly adapted for home use which mayvery easily'be set up to providea strong steady table and which may readily be folded into a compact unit which may be stored in a small space. y

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding table having legs which may be folded into a position parallel to the main portionof the table and having special 'means for-holding the legs in extended position when the table luse and said means also being adapted -tohold the legs in folded position. l I

It is still another object of this invention to iii.

provide a cutting table having a removable top, vsaid top being cut transverselyv and hinged to permit the same to be folded when it is removed from the table and said top also having means 3 Claims. (Cl. S11-.76)

for holding it in place on the table frame and v for holding the table frame in fully extended position when the top is placed thereon. The table frame comprises end rails and side rails, the' side rails being of telescopic construction and also being provided with hinges to permit the side rails to be telescoped and to be folded, together with the end rails, to form a very compact unit.

Some -of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appearv as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved folding table in assembled position;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view looking up from the bottom of Figure 1 and showing the manner in which the removable top is hinged to permit the same to be folded when the top 'is removed from the table frame;

Figure 3 is an enlarged verticalv sectional view Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing the means for holding the leg in extended position moved to a 'diiferent position to permit the leg to be folded so as to assume a position parallel to the table frame; f l

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the table frame in extended positionv with the legs also in extended position and omitting the table top; p

' Figure `6 is an isometric view ofthe table frame in a partially folded position;

Figure 7 is a -top plan view of the table frame in a completely folded position; l

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the table top removed from the table; v

Figure 9 is an isometric view of the table top removed from the table and showing it Vin a partially folded position; y

Figure 10 is an enlarged verticals'ectional view taken substantially along the line III-I ll in Figure 8 and showing the manner in which the table top is -hinged at its medial portion.

Referring lmore specifically to the drawings, the numeral I0 broadly designates the frame of weight metal such as aluminum. The frame I0 comprises end rails II and I2 which are preferably channel-shaped in cross section but which may be of solid construction if so desired.` A side rail I3 which is alsol preferably channelshaped in cross section is secured to one end of the end rail II as by a hinge I5 secured to the inner surface of the end rail II and the inner surface of the side rail I3 as by rivets I6 (Figure 5).

A second side rail IT, which is preferably channel-shaped in cross section, having exterior dimensions slightly less than the interior dimensions of the channel-shaped rail I3, has one end telescopically disposed in the free end of the side rail I3 and its other end is` secured to a shoulder portion I8 of the same dimensions as the exterior dimensions of the side rail I3. The proximate ends of the side rails I3 and I'I are provided'with ears I3ct and II to prevent the side rails I3 and I'I from becoming disengaged.

rI'he end of the rail I1 having the shoulder portion I8 thereon is out at a 45 degree angle and is secured to the end rail I2 by a. hinge 20 which is secured to the shoulder portion I8 and is also secured'to one end of the end rail I2 which is also cut at a 45 degree angle. The hinge 2D permits the rails I2 and II to pivot through an arc of 270 degrees.v

The end rail I I has a relatively short stub side rail 22 integral with the end thereof remote from acoaaee the side rail I3 and forming a right angle to the end rail Il. This stub side rail 22 is also preferably channel-shaped in cross section. Hingedly secured, as at 23, to the free end of the stub side rail 22 is another side rail 25 of the same cross-sectional dimensions as the stub side rail 22. The side rail 25 has a side rail 26 telescopically mounted therein, the side rail 26 being of smaller outside dimensions in cross-.section than the interior dimensions of the side rail '25 and being provided with a shoulder portion 21 integral with the end remote from the side rail `25. The shoulder portion 2l is of the same cross sectional dimensions as the side rail 25.

The proximate ends of the side rails 23 and 26 are provided with ears, .notshown similar .to the ears |311 and Ila, to prevent the side rails 25 and 26 from becoming disengaged. The shoulder portion 2l of the rail 26 is hingedly secured, Yas yat 2B, fto the `end of the end .rail I2 remote VEfrom the shoulder-portion lI8 ofA therail jlfl, .the hinge-2,3 beingsecured "to the inner sur- Lface of the shoulder portion .-21 and to the inner surface of the end rail I2 as by rivets 29 (Figll1e3.)-f

It is thus seen .that thetrame Ill is substantially rectangular lwhen in extended position, as shown in Figure and when it is desi-red to col lapse the frame -ID- the siderail l] jis telescoped into the side rail I3 thus-opening thehinge 28 and causing the `end rail `1,2to :move inwardlr toward Athe ,side rail 25. :The v-hinge l23 will also open slightly as the shoulder gpor-tion I3 `moves adjacent .the side rail 1:3. The end rail `I2 isithen moved' further inwardly toward the side rail 25 so that the hinge 2li will fmove past ydead-center to substantially the position vshown in Figure 6.

At the same time the side rail 2B will be teleside rail l2 will Abe ,disposed in contact witheach. Y

other. Then the legsofj .the table may be -folded up adjacentv the frame in a `manner about to be described-to for-m the compact unit shown in Figure '7.

Yt plurality of legs 33 through 33, inclusive, preferably of tubular construction and each having a cap member` on the lower end thereof, `Figure -5, are. secured to the opposed corners o-fthe frame ID `by means .of inverted substantially U-shaped brackets 33 through 39, inclus-ive, respectively, which are welded-to the four cor- Anersof the frame Hl. Y

It should be `noted that the inverted .U -shaped bracket 3,6 is welded to the lower surface of the end rail 4II in such a manner as to permit the leg 30 to -be folded to a position parallel to the end rai-lf! I. The U-shaped member 3i iswelded to the lower surface. o f theendof the Side rail I3 adjacent the end -rail -II and is adapted -to permit the leg 3| tobe folded to a position parallel to the side rail I3. The bracket 38 fis welded to the lower surface of the end of the end rail I2 adjacent the shoulder I-S and this bracket 3.8 extends slightly beyond the end of the end rail I2 and is so positioned' as to permit the leg 32 to be folded to a position parallel to the end rail I2. The bracket 33 is welded to the lower surface of the shoulder portion 23 of the side rail 26 and is so positioned as to permit the leg 33 to be folded 'to a position parallel to the side rails 25 and 26.

Since the brackets 36 through 33 and the manner in which the legs 38 through 33 are mounted therein are identical only the bracket 39 and the leg 33 will be described. Referring to Figures 3 and 4 it will be observed that the bracket 39 is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and has a leg 39a and a leg 39h, the leg 3319 being of slightly greater length than the leg 39a. The upper portion of the leg 33 is preferably rectangular `in :cross-section .and is provided with diametrically opposed bores '45 and'S in the upper end thereof and with diametrically op- -posed bores 4l and 48 spaced slightly below the bores-d'ahd.

The wall 39a of the U-shaped bracket 39 is lprovidedwith a bore 5B which coincides with the bore .45 inthe upper portion of the leg 33 and the wall 33o of the bracket 39 has a bore 5l therein which coincides with the bore 46 in the upper portion of the ileg 33. The wall 39h of the .bracket 139. is also provided with a lbore 52 which rc iiincides With fthe bore 43 inthe leg lt should vbe 4observed that the wall :33a of :the bracket 39 stops .short .of the bore yIll the leg 33. ,-A substantially U-shaped pint?! is :provided .This pin -54 has fa head 55 ithereon .and za lhori- =zontal leg .-56 which extends inwardly through .the bores 5I, '45, 45 'and 53 Aand then 'extends downwardly, as at -5I, and then outwardly` to form a second horizontal leg 33 which penetrates -thebores 41,48 and'52.

It is thus seen that when the `:leg 33- is extending at right angles to the rail 2li and the pin 54 is ,-in the vposition shown in Figure 13 with .the horizontal `leg 160 penetrating the bore 52 in `the U- shaped :bracket 39, the pin 54 wil-l serve vto lock -the leg 33 in this extended position.

Now, when it is desiredv to `fold the ,leg 33 .to a Yposition parallel to andv adjacent the side :rails 25 and 26, an operator ,may push the .head '55 of the pin-,54 inwardly, or to the left in Figures 3 and 4,-to where the horizontal leg '63 lwill be out of engagement with the bore52 to thus permit 'the leg 33 rto be pivoted on theleg '56 .of the pin 54 to a horizontal position adjacent the side rails 2,5 and 26. It is obvious that the pin 55 `will pivot with the-leg 33 since the portion '63 of the pin 55 is spaced a sumcient distance below the end of the vwall 39a of the bracket 39 to permit 'the same to ,move past the `end of the wall 39a when the 'leg is moved to a horizontal position.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10. there will be observed a removable top broad-ly designated at 'lil and comprising sections ll, l2, 73, and 'ld hingedly secured to each `other in .a manner to be presently described. The section 'Il has a transverse member 'I6 secured to the outer end thereof on its lower surface andV the portion 'I4 has a transverse member 'l1 secured to the outer end thereof on its lower surface. A bracing member 'I8 is secured to the lower side of the portion II in a position parallel to and slightly spaced from the transverse memberl. The brace member 'I8 has an extension 80 at one side thereof which extends parallel to and arljacent the side rail 22 in Figure 2. A second extension 8l extends from the other end of the bracing member 'I8 parallel to and adjacent the side rail I3.

A brace member 82 is secured to the lower surface of section 'l2 adjacent the side rail 25 and a brace member 83 is also secured to the lower surface of section I2 adjacent the side rail i3. Thebrace members 82 and 83 are hingedly secured tothe members 8e and SI, respectively, by means ofhinges 85 and 85, respectively, secured to the respective portions 80, 8|, 82, and 83 as by screws 81. Brace members 90 and 9| are secured to the lower surface of the section 13 adjacent the side rails 25 and I3, respectively. The section 10 has a transverse brace member 92 secured thereto adjacent the end rail I2 and this member 92 has an extension 93 adjacent the shoulder 21 of the side rail 2E and an extension 95 adjacent the shoulder I8 of the side rail I1. The brace members 93 and 95 are hingedly secured to the brace members 90 and 9|, respectively, by means of hinges 96 and 91 secured to the members 90 and 93 and 9| and 95, respectively, as by screws 98.

Referring to Figure 10 it will be observed that the top sections 12 and 13 are hingedly secured to each other by means of hinges |00 and 10| which are set flush in the sections 12 and 13 and are secured therein as by screws |02. thus seen that the table top may be folded at the hinges, 85, 86, |00, |0| and 96 and 91 in the manner shown in Figure 9 into a relatively small compact unit.

Whenthe table top 10 is in position on the frame I0 the brace members 16 and 11 will be disposed adjacent the outer surfaces of the end rails and I2, respectively, and brace members 18 and 92 will be disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of the end rails and I2, respectively.

The brace members 80, 8|, 82, 83, 90, 9|, 93 vand 95 will be disposed adjacent the respective side rails (Figure 2) to thus hold the frame I0 in extended position, and to hold the table top on the frame I0.

If desired, the table top 10 may be provided with suitable graduations around each edge thereof to provide for the easy Vmeasuring of' cloth being cut on vthe cutting table.

It is thus seen that I have provided a cutting table particularly adapted for home use and having a removable top which may be folded into a compact unit and also having a telescopic frame which is provided with hinges at various points to permit the frame to be folded so that the end rails and side rails of the frame will be disposed adjacent each other. This table also has legs pivotally secured to the opposed corners of the frame and releasable means for locking the legs in extended position which means, when released, will permit the legs to be folded against the end and side rails of the frame I0 of the table.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A substantially rectangular foldable table frame comprising a first and a second end rail and a, first and a second side rail, the second end rail being provided with a relatively short stub side rail secured .to one end thereof, each of said first and second side rails being tubular andformed of two parts adapted to be telescoped one within the other, one end of the second side rail being hingedly secured to the free end of the relatively short stub side rail secured to the second end rail, the other end of said second side It is 6 rail being hingedly secured to one end of the first end rail, one end of said first side rail being hingedly secured to the end of the second end rail remote from the relatively short stub side rail and having its other end hingedly securedV to the end of the first end rail remote from the end to which the second side rail .is secured, said table also having la'table leg on each corner of the frame, whereby the sections of the side rails may be telescoped one section within the other and the end rails and the side rails may be folded together in parallel relation to each other to form a compact unit when the table is not in use.

2. 'A collapsible table frame comprising first and second spaced parallel tubular telescopic side rails, first and second end rails extending between opposed ends of the telescopic side rails, the first side rail being hingedly connected at opposed ends thereof to one end of both ofthe end rails, the second side rail being hingedly connected at one end thereof to the end of the rst end rail remote from the end of the rst end rail which is hingedly connected to the first side rail, a right-angular stub portion integral with one end of the second end rail and projecting toward the first end rail and to which the end of the second telescopic side rail remote from the first end rail is hingedly connected, a table leg secured to each corner of the frame for supporting the table top whereby, when the side rails are fully telescoped, the side rails and the end rails may be folded at the hinged points thereof so the side rails and end rails may assume a substantially:

parallel position in juxtaposed relation to each other.

3.7A Vsubstantially rectangular frame for supporting the table top comprising rst and second spaced parallel telescopic side rails, first and second end rails extending between opposed ends of the telescopio side rails, the first side rail being hingedly connected at opposed ends thereof to one end of both of the end rails, the second side rail being hingedly connected at one end thereof to the end of the first end rail remote from the end of the first end rail which is hingedly connected to the first side rail, a stub portion integral with the second end rail and projecting toward the first end rail and to which the end of the second telescopic side rail remote from the rst end rail is hingedly connected, a table leg hingedly secured to each corner of the frame for supporting the table top, whereby the sections of the side rails may be fully telescoped one within the other and the side rails and the end rails may be folded at the hinged points thereof so the side rails and end rails may assume a substantially parallel position in juxtaposed relation to each other.

BENJAMIN F. HAGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

